The Red Hood gang terrorizes Gotham in the latest appropriately titled episode.
Here’s Mike’s review…
ThisGothamreview contains spoilers.
Gothamplayed to its strengths for most (not all, sadly) of this episode, in fact.
We had another big set piece opening with the newly-hooded Red Hood Gang robbing a bank.
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But I digress…
In short, in the comics, this was the Jokers costumed criminal identity before he was the Joker.
Basically, though, the Red Hood isexactlythe kind of bat-related concept thatGothamshould be going after more often.
See also: The Court of Owls.
Michael Goldsmith, who played this particular thug, might not have made a bad proto-Joker.
Where are they going with this?
Usually Im asking myself questions like Why am I still watching this show?
so this was a nice change of pace.
Was the episode full of the usually shoddy police work?
Meanwhile, Penguin, the driving force of the shows entire first half, has lost all momentum.
Hes also too stupid to know where the club gets its booze.
Why we had five minutes with Barbara and her pet street urchins this week is utterly beyond me.
Im not sure theres a more poorly-written, dislikeable character on TV at the moment than Barbara Keane.
That looks as nuanced asBreaking Badseason three compared to Barbaras arc.
This was the best they could do for Jeffrey Combs.
In all seriousness, The Red Hood was roughly as good asGothamknows how to be.
Life With the Waynes
Sterling stuff this week, actually.
It would have made that final stabby moment that much more powerful.
I know, I know…its a stretch.
This idea that masks are totemic in Gotham City is something thats been explored in the comics.
The first arc from the 90s incarnation ofLegends of the Dark Knightwas a year one style story called Shaman.
It was written by the great Denny ONeil with some killer art by Denys Cowan.
This was something floated in the comics but popularized by Christopher NolansThe Dark Knight.
Essentially, there would be no need for costumed criminals were they not reacting to Batman.
I never bought that.
As in the GI Joe villain?
I mean, if thats what youre going for, then cool.
But…
Dr. Dulmacher.
Get the hell out of here with that nonsense.
Thats like if last weeks kid Joker was named Joe Kerr.
And as weve seen, somebody behind the scenes onGothamknows their music, so you never know.
If I missed any, you may shine your bat-signal of shame on me down below…
Rating:
3 out of 5
